Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-18

careless Indifferent eyes looked toward the
platform. Tuen suddenly, at the sight OF the
lecturer, with wild, shril cry she sprang tc
her feet. She tried 10 speak, but her voice
failed her; only hoarse, cultural cry came
from her pale lips and with a gesture of
despair she threw up her arms wildly and
then fell down i'll swoon.
She was removed Immediately; but it was
more than an hour before size could be taken
home, and then it WAS not her own bouse,
but to Mrs. Saunders that they took her,
and laid her on the couch in the pretty draw
ing room, while Mrs. Saunders, having done
all that was necessary for her comfort, sat
down beside her, wiping her old eyes from
time 10 time, for she WAS very much agitated
and strangely exercised in her mind. She
kept saying to herself almost necessarily in
an undertone:
He is a Trustworthy man, if he is anything.
Oh, yes, surely he is a trustworthy man, and
my Janet is past trouble and at rest"
From time TO time she looked wistfully
down at the gentle face which had become so
dear to her, but it was as it had ever
been, like a closed book: she could only see
that it was strangely changed-vivid emo
ton had transformed 1t, as if by a miracle
The passiouleSs calm which had been its dis
tlnguishing characteristic was gone, the
sweet, sad eyes were cleaning with wild,
strange light, and in the pale cheeks there
was feverish flush of color that changed at
every sound, while every passing footstep on
the pavefnent outside made Helen tremble.
Oh, how long those two hours seemed in
which he did not come, and, oh, how strange
a
at last! He was not the stately, proud, cold
man he had always appeared to her, but
eager, excited, bending forward, as if he
would rush headlong into the room. He did
not notice her at all; she was only of second
airy importance-she belonged 10 Janet and
his marriage of convenience, not to the pas
sionate past the memories of which were
overInastering him now. So the old lady
thought; and a momentary pans of jealousy
pierced her heart. He bad eyes only for the
pale lovely figure on the sofa; it was to her
ne went, and throwing himself down upon
his kness beside her, he clasped her hand in
both his own.
Helen, Helen,7 he cried in a voice shriil
with excitement and hope.
He thought only OF her, saw only her: but
she had caught glimpse of poor Mrs. Saun
| ders' perplexed face, and springing up from
the sofa, grasped her hands.
I'VE loved each other in YOUTH" she said
breathlessly; we were one in heart and soul
Npw, we meet after years of hopeless srpara
| ton: it is as though he were given back to nt
from the dead You understand"
Mrs Saunders did not understand at all
but in due time and after many explanation,
/ q. loip to Tha -
her had been engaged to each other in Helemt
| girlhood long before, but they were poor
and he had resolved to go to India in quest o.
fortune. The ship in which he sailed has
been lost with all on board, as was sup
posed; but he and three others had beeI
saved Meanwhile the aunt with whom
Helen lived had died. And, alone in til,
world almost broken hearted at the loss o.
her lover, she had wandered forth from tn,
nome of her childhood, with every tie broker
that had once bound her to her fellow
creatures
Il must have died, William" she sobbed
"in that dreary time-yes, | am sure | mus
| have died-if it had not been necessary fo
ME to work, and if | had not found worl
which could do.
1t was a simple ory-straightforward
and without complications; and Mrs. Saun
ders, having heard it, went up stairs to be-
grandchild's nursery, and left the two alone
They had their plans to think OF, their futur
to talk about; they did not need her, They
had to take up the thread of their life wher
it had snapped so suddenly; and they fount
1t marvelously easy to do so, for their heart
had never ceased to beat in sympathy witt
each other.
I'VE have dropped out of the account
Janet and land she is in her quiet grave
SO, after ALL it is only me that it is bart
upon" said good Mrs. Saunders to herself
as she stopped over her grandson's cot. From
the moment she understood the situation
clearly she had seen how it ali must end, and
although she cried little, she was glad, an
did not regret that she had gone out wit
noiseless step and left them alone "She wi
be happy" she said to herself, with a sol
land can say from my heart, Heaven bles
her and make her SOL although she is to Il
nv Janets place Boston Herald